…as Government pursues new export markets

Hundreds of rice farmers from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) on Tuesday received their subsidy from the Government at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora. The Region Three distribution is part of a nationwide $3 billion subsidy programme for rice farmers. This initiative is in keeping with a commitment made by President Dr Irfaan Ali in April following consultations with farmers across the country.

From those consultations, it was agreed that rice farmers cultivating 50 acres or less will receive $15,000 per acre, while those cultivating more than 50 acres will receive $10,000 per acre. More than 5100 rice farmers cultivating over 235,000 acres of rice across Guyana are set to benefit. The initiative was introduced as a targeted intervention to support rice producers as the industry continues to face increasing global challenges affecting agricultural production, input costs and international markets. In Region Three, 560 rice farmers cultivating a combined 15,636 acres are expected to benefit from more than $201 million in relief.